Challenges are steps I must take to reach my destination and the key to unlocking dreams. They will give me the strength to conquer life obstacles personally and professionally. I have encountered various obstacles, but my most recent one is calculus. I have always been a great math student, but in my first year in college, I was introduced to a beast called Calculus. Calculus truly challenges me, from learning new concepts to solving complex equations. I would study the equation examples and solutions presented in class, work with my professors in class and after class to help me unlock the mystery, and practice the homework assignments repeatedly. Overcoming the challenge of Calculus 1 taught me how determined I am and the value of a skillful work ethic. This challenge I am facing has been difficult to resolve.  Day in and day out I am giving my attention to understanding calculus.  Each week, the professor assigned quizzes and weekly tests.  Each week, I noticed my scores increasing, and my understanding of calculus became clearer.  It is now time for me to take my final exam.  I am feeling nervous but also somewhat prepared to take the test.  I earned an A- in the class and am very proud of my accomplishment.  I did not give up, although my task seemed impossible. I will take Calculus II during the spring semester and Calculus III online during the summer. The lessons I’ve learned from Calculus will allow me to be successful in the next series of Calculus classes. I have prepared myself for this next challenge by reaching out to former students who have done well in the class and searching for potential tutors. As the course progresses, so will the difficulty. However, I am more than ready because of my willingness to learn and my standard of excellence. I am a bioengineering student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Calculus is not optional; it is a required class to receive my bachelor’s degree. I must maintain a 3.5 GPA to qualify for scholarships, internships, and honors. Additionally, I aspire to graduate with honors. This challenge taught me that in life, I will encounter difficult situations and must figure out how to move forward.  This challenge has taught me not to be afraid to ask others for help and how to grow through perseverance, dedication, and teamwork. These characteristics will help me maneuver and prevail over obstacles in life. While new challenges come with a sense of fear and anxiety, I know I am well-equipped to achieve every goal I have set for myself. The courage to continue to thrive in environments that force me to grow in uncomfortable situations will only benefit me in the long run. I’m grateful for every challenge and every lesson learned because each one pushes me to be a better me in and outside of the classroom.

Transforming a dream into reality requires a plan, dedication, and discipline. Without a plan and commitment, a dream is just a fantasy living in your head. My passion for STEM began before I fully understood STEM. My favorite subjects in school have always been math and science. Math concepts and formulas were effortless for me to comprehend, and I enjoyed the science experiments in the lab at school and different workshops in the summer. I began learning about engineering in high school and was excited about the class projects I was assigned. I constructed and tested the strength of a suspension bridge made of duct tape and toothpicks. I also built a model race car and competed against my peers in class. I am attending North Carolina A&T University, majoring in biomedical engineering because of my passion for healthcare and solving problems. This branch of healthcare uses engineering techniques to improve human health through advancements in diagnoses, treatments, and recovery. I have applied to participate in an internship during the summer of 2025 to gain hands-on opportunities and equip myself with the skills and knowledge to become successful in my career. Internships will allow me to work side-by-side with professionals in my field. They will be able to teach and guide me through real-world experience. After I graduate from college, I plan to secure a job in the medical field and continue my education by attending workshops and seminars to enhance my skills. Engineering is an essential part of everything around us. I aspire to be part of the change that improves human health in America by building and maintaining the equipment used for patients. Biomedical Engineering is a career primarily dominated by white males and females. African American females are highly underrepresented, which makes me more determined to change the makeup of this career field. Women of color will be accepted in this career when the leadership becomes more diverse. When we become accepted, we will be a voice impacting our people. I plan to encourage other young girls of color in my community and throughout the United States that a career in biomedical engineering will enable them to improve the health of their people. This scholarship will help make my dream a reality by providing financial support, easing my family’s financial burden, and ensuring my continued enrollment at North Carolina A&T State University. I have the intelligence and determination to maintain my grades; my only obstacle is securing the funds to continue my education.

Encountering obstacles is a part of life. Obstacles can include many different things such as poor time management skills, unrealistic expectations, and fear of failure. I must face them with courage, and not allowing them to hinder my progress is the key to overcoming obstacles. The obstacle I have struggled with most is my fear of failure. I have competed on an elite cheer team for over 10 years and each year our goal is to win the National Cheer Championship in Orlando, Florida. Last year, we placed 4th and this year we are determined to become champions. To overcome that obstacle, I had to choose what was best for the team and not allow my desire to interfere. Sometimes, my desire to socialize with friends outside of cheer would conflict with the team’s practice schedule. However, my motivation to achieve success motivated me to focus on the team's needs first and my social life second. This experience will help me succeed in college because I know the importance of sacrifice for the greater good. My greater good is becoming a biomedical engineer and giving back to my community. To achieve this, I will have to sacrifice some late nights with friends and instead study to ensure my success as a student. I began my post-secondary educational journey, to become a bioengineer on August 21, 2024. I am a North Carolina A&T State University student pursuing a bachelor's degree. This degree will equip me with the necessary education and training to assist in developing better affordable medical equipment for underserved communities. Biomedical engineering is a branch of healthcare specializing in improving healthcare by using devices to troubleshoot a patient's diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. My teachers have laid the foundation for me to continue my education at the next level. My foundations of being involved in multiple extracurricular activities, such as varsity cheerleader, National Honors Society, and Technology Student Association, have allowed me to work with different people. I have learned time management and conflict resolution skills, which have impacted me greatly over the past four years. I have become an effective communicator amongst my peers and designed a calendar and checklist system for deadlines and events. I am truly grateful for all the skills I have acquired and eagerly look forward to gaining more as I pursue my higher education. To be considered a recipient of this prestigious scholarship would be a privilege and honor. My dedication to excellence and hard work represents the model candidate for this scholarship. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship and I hope to hear from you soon.

Facing obstacles is a natural part of life. These obstacles can take many forms, including poor time management skills, unrealistic expectations, and a fear of failure. I must confront them with courage, as overcoming these challenges without allowing them to hinder my progress is essential. The obstacle I have struggled with the most is my fear of failure. I have competed on an elite cheer team for over 10 years, and our goal is to win the National Cheer competition in Orlando, Florida. Last year, we finished in 4th place, but next year, we will be champions. To overcome this challenge, I had to prioritize what was best for the team and not allow my desires to interfere. Sometimes, my need to socialize with friends outside of cheerleading conflicted with the team’s need for practice. However, my motivation to achieve greatness allowed me to put the team’s needs first and consider my social life as secondary. This experience will help me succeed in college because I understand the importance of sacrifices for the greater good. My goal is to become a biomedical engineer and give back to my community, I will have to eliminate some late nights with friends to focus on my studies and become the best student I can be. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina A&T University. This degree will equip me with education and training in providing better and more affordable medical equipment to underserved communities. Biomedical engineering is a branch of healthcare that specializes in improving healthcare through devices and the application of principles to troubleshoot diagnoses, treatments, and recovery. My college professors will lay the groundwork for me to continue my education at the next level. My foundations of being involved in multiple extracurricular activities, such as varsity cheerleader, National Honors Society (NHS), and Technology Student Association (TSA), have allowed me to work with different people. I have learned time management and conflict resolution skills, which have impacted me significantly over the past four years. I have become an effective communicator amongst my peers and designed a calendar and checklist system for deadlines and events. I am grateful for the skills I have acquired and am excited about the opportunity to learn more as I pursue higher education. Being considered for this prestigious scholarship is both a privilege and an honor. My commitment to excellence and hard work makes me a strong candidate for this scholarship. Thank you for considering my application, and I hope to hear from you soon.

I have always dreamed of becoming an Aggie, and now my dream has become my reality. I was excited when I received my acceptance letter to attend North Carolina A&T State University. However, my dreams were almost shattered due to financial obstacles. My mom suggested we wait before making a final decision, hoping we could secure some scholarship money to lessen the cost. We waited and waited, but unfortunately, no scholarship money came through. I was disappointed to see my dreams slipping away and feeling powerless to change the outcome. Somehow, my mom was able to use a portion of her retirement money to pay for me to attend North Carolina A&T State University. I greatly appreciate the sacrifice she made to allow me to attend NCAT. The sacrifice she made will motivate me to be the best student. My goal is to make her proud of my accomplishments by graduating from college with honors and securing a great-paying job. I take great pride in being affiliated with this illustrious HBCU. NCAT has a strong reputation for educating and molding students academically and socially. I have begun applying for summer internships to increase my professional network. I am actively participating in different organizations on campus. After I graduate from college, I am confident I will be well-prepared for a successful career and a productive member of society. I will use the education I receive at NCAT to secure a job at a medical facility, where I will maintain and repair medical devices that will improve the lives of humans. These machines will help diagnose and treat various diseases. I will be a positive role model for my community and family. I will actively participate with several non-profit organizations by volunteering my time and expertise to encourage others about STEM opportunities. My mom instilled in me early on the value of volunteering by helping others. I would watch her at my school helping teachers by teaching other students in my classroom who required extra attention. I would observe her at church helping families by packing Thanksgiving boxes. She also visited the senior assistance living center, where we would sing and play bingo with the patients. Later, I began assisting at church by packing food boxes for Thanksgiving and book bags with school supplies for students. It is a good feeling to be able to help others, especially when you see how grateful the children and parents are when they receive needed assistance and see a friendly face. I have matured significantly over the past few months living on campus. I never realized how much I depended on my mother for everyday tasks. Now, I am responsible for making sure I have food to eat, washing my clothes, and being mindful of my time. I had to call her a few times to ask about doing my laundry. She was able to guide me through the process over the phone. I miss having my mother around to share in my everyday activities and provide me with her wisdom. I read the article about your mother; she sounds like a truly wonderful mother. I appreciate the benefits of having a loving and supportive mother who makes great sacrifices to ensure I have the best opportunity. I am thankful for the opportunity to apply for this college scholarship and thank you for carrying on your mother's legacy. This scholarship will help ease the burden of paying for college and allow me to achieve my dreams professionally and personally.

When I encounter various challenges in life, they can either strengthen or weaken me. It's my decision which path I take. I use courage to confront my challenges, it helps me overcome my fears and obstacles. Challenges can paralyze, prevent me from progressing, and destroy my future. Acknowledging my challenges is the first step in overcoming and moving forward. Although, the STEM curriculum has not been challenging for me because math and science have always been easy for me. I have faced challenges in other parts of my life. The challenge I encountered pursuing my interest in a STEM field was which college would equip and prepare me for a career in biomedical engineering. All colleges are not the same, there are predominantly white institutions (PWI) and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). I decided to attend North Carolina A&T State University a HBCU to further my education because of the rich history of preparing great engineers. I compared the curriculum, price, and graduation rate of its graduates. The engineering program is nationally ranked number 4 in the USA's best HBCU of 2024. The graduation rate is 56% and 74% retention rate. The curriculum is filled with courses that will prepare the graduate to succeed. The 4-year total cost to attend for out-of-state students is $82,04, which is a lower cost compared to other HBCUs. My passion for STEM began before I knew about STEM. My favorite subjects in school have always been math and science. Math concepts and formulas were easy for me to comprehend and learn. I enjoyed the science experiments in the lab at school and different workshops in the summer. I began learning about engineering in high school and was excited about the class projects I was assigned. I constructed and tested the strength of a suspension bridge made of duct tape and toothpicks. I also built a model race car and competed against my peers in class. I have begun applying to participate in an internship during the summer of 2025 to gain hands-on opportunities and equip myself with the skills and knowledge to become successful in my career. Internships will allow me to work side-by-side with professionals in my field. They will be able to teach and guide me through real-world experience. Biomedical Engineering is a career primarily dominated by white males and females. African American females are highly underrepresented because of a lack of diversity in leadership. Women of color will be accepted in this career when the leadership becomes more diverse. When we become accepted, we will be a voice for our people. I plan to encourage other young girls of color in my community and throughout the United States that a career in biomedical engineering will enable them to improve the health of their people.

LeBron James is considered one of the greatest basketball players due to his exceptional attitude towards the game and his outstanding athletic abilities. I don't believe he is the greatest of all time, he is refining the skills that others before him have already mastered. His strength and talent are among the best in the league, and he often makes his opponents appear like amateurs when he competes on the basketball court. Additionally, he cares greatly for his mental and physical well-being during and after the seasons. He is well-disciplined and maintains his body like a finely tuned machine. I am a fan because he is a great basketball player, he electrifies the crowds with his playing style. People pay a great deal of money to watch him play in person. He can encourage his teammates to play harder when they are losing. His humble attitude allows others to shine. When playing with other players on the All-Star and the USA Olympic basketball teams, he unselfishly passes the ball to other players on the team. His giving spirit allowed him to give back to those less fortunate than him and helped him along his journey. He has positioned himself to pass the baton to the next generation of players.